ARCHS has formed new partnerships with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and Saint Louis University to enhance the quality of programming in its After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP) students.

Girl Scouts' BFF Program

The Girls Scouts are currently turning ASAP students into leaders through its character development curriculum, "Be a Friend First" (BFF), at five after school sites. BFF is an eight-week program created to help girls develop healthy relationship skills, understand relational aggression, and learn about conflict resolution and bullying prevention.

"After school programs are a great forum to reach girls for non-formal instruction. One of the aims of ASAP is to build student social and life skills and develop character," said Michelle Johnson, Grant Programs Manager for the Girls Scouts of Eastern Missouri.

Johnson believes BFF not only builds character, but it also helps strengthen self-confidence, identifies bully exclusive behaviors, teaches how to resolve conflicts peacefully and constructively, builds trusting relationships with classmates, and helps girls to feel empowered to create a culture of peace.

"Girls will work on a project of their own design to address bullying in their school and this kind of taking action is key to Girl Scouts -making the world a better place," Johnson said.

The program, which is based on the Girl Scouts national leadership curriculum, is currently being taught at ASAP after school sites at Adams Park Community Center, and Dunbar, Fairview, Hanrahan, and Mann elementary schools.

Saint Louis University's "1,000 Tickets Initiative"

ASAP after school students are going blue for winter through a new partnership that is providing tickets to Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball games.

Saint Louis University's "1,000 Tickets Initiative" reaches out to community organizations, and donates tickets to home basketball games at Chaifetz Arena

The 2013 holiday season is underway, and ARCHS is proud to promote the gift of lifelong learning throughout the year via the design, management, and evaluation of education and social service programs.

During the past year, ARCHS enhanced the lives of more than 65,000 at-risk children and adults with a focus on childcare quality and safety, after school programs, mentoring and youth development, healthcare, adult life skills/work readiness training, and so much more.

Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) has announced that for the past 12 fiscal years (2002-2013), its financial statements have earned unqualified or “clean,” audits from independent auditors.

ARCHS’ FY2013 (July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013) audit was reviewed and approved by ARCHS’ Board of Directors at their December 12, 2013 meeting.

Issuance of an “unqualified opinion” means an auditor, upon review of an organization’s financial statements and accompanying notes, concluded that the financial statements and accompanying notes are presented fairly, conform to generally accepted accounting principles and fairly represent the true financial picture of the organization.

Over the past four years, ARCHS has also successfully completed federal A-133 audits for its work with federal grants. An A-133 audit is required for any organization that expends more than $500,000 or more in a year in funding from the federal government.

We are proud to share with you the successful results of our most recent programs-inspiring confidence about investing in ARCHS.

Nothing succeeds like success, and ARCHS continues to attract quality partners who experience the value of the programs we have to offer.

ARCHS' "partnership" business model sets us apart from stand-alone organizations. Today's ever challenging economy requires collaboration over competition. ARCHS leverages and matches scarce resources (both hard cash and in-kind services) to bring programs to scale and serve as many children and families as possible.

ARCHS designed, managed, and evaluated 14 education and social service programs in partnership with 200 organizations throughout Greater St. Louis - that improved the lives of 64,000 of our community's most vulnerable residents resulting in an economic impact valued at $17.6 million.

Examples of ARCHS' program successes are many and serve as the foundation for sharing our expertise.

In 2013 and beyond, ARCHS remains committed to designing, managing, and evaluating education and social service programs that contribute to the greater good of our most vulnerable neighbors.

ARCHS' partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State of Missouri has provided 4,672 St. Louis children in the Saint Louis Public School District (SLPS) access to healthy meals this summer, while making a $660,829 impact on the local economy in Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (SEBTC) benefits.

Families participating in the ARCHS' summer food program used 89.4% of the funding available to them.

All households in the demonstration areas with children from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade who received free and reduced price meals at school were qualified to be considered for SEBTC. Using the EBT system, this demonstration project tested the most effective way to provide food to low-income children during the summer when school is not in session and children do not have access to school meals. Missouri successfully gave benefits to children in Kansas City, Hickman Mills, and Center School Districts - and expanded the program to St. Louis through ARCHS in 2012